When I was faced with a big stash of plastic bags, I decided to reduce my carbon footprint and turn them into something useful. I made a tote. Fashionably upcycled from plastic bags, it has become the bag I carry when I shop. And when I traveled to Maldives, it became my trusty beach bag.

This tote was featured in the press recently. Here’s the tutorial that came with it. I hope you’ll have fun making one for yourself.

Plastic bag tote Instructions

You will need:

• 14 large plastic bags
• 2 binder clips
• A pair of scissors
• 8mm crochet hook
• A safety pin
• A scarf (50cm square)

Making plarn
Plarn is yarn made from plastic bags, cut into strips and knotted together into a single long strand like yarn. Here’s how to make it.

1. Smoothen each plastic bag. Fold it lengthwise into half. Fold it in half again. Use two binder clips to hold the folded plastic bag in place.

2. Cut the folded plastic bag into 2cm strips. Discard the handles and bottom. You will now have strips in the form of loops like rubber bands.

3. To join the strips of plastic, loop each end together and knot to form a single strand. It’s very much like knotting rubber bands. See photo.

Making the tote
The tote is made with single crochet stitches. Its circular base is crocheted in a spiral. A safety pin is used as a marker for the start of each round.

A safety pin is used to mark the start of each round.

Tote’s base
To start, make a slip knot and caste on 3 chains. Crochet a slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Round 1: Crochet 8 single crochet stitches (sc) through the centre of the ring.

Round 2: Crochet 2 sc into each stitch (total 16 stitches)

Round 3: *Crochet 1 sc into 1 stitch, crochet 2 sc into the next stitch*. Repeat the sequence ** for the remaining stitches (total 24 stitches).

Round 4: *Crochet 1 sc into each of the next 2 stitches, crochet 2 sc into the next stitch*. Repeat the sequence ** for the remaining stitches (total 32 stitches).

Round 5: *Crochet 1 sc into each of the next 3 stitches, crochet 2 sc into the next stitch*. Repeat the sequence ** for the remaining stitches (total 40 stitches).

Round 6: *Crochet 1 sc into each of the next 4 stitches, crochet 2 sc into the next stitch*. Repeat the sequence ** for the remaining stitches (total 48 stitches).

Round 7: *Crochet 1 sc into each of the next 5 stitches, crochet 2 sc into the next stitch*. Repeat the sequence ** for the remaining stitches (total 56 stitches).

Round 8: *Crochet 1 sc into each of the next 6 stitches, crochet 2 sc into the next stitch*. Repeat the sequence ** for the remaining stitches (total 64 stitches).

Tote’s body

At this stage, you can end the crocheting if you want to make a basket.

Rounds 9 – 47: Crochet 1 sc into each stitch. After you complete the final stitch, snip off excess plarn; leaving a tail about 15cm in length. Pull the yarn completely through the stitch to end. Use your hook to pull through the back of your existing stitches to neaten the end. Snip off excess yarn. Neaten the base inside your bag the same way.

Attaching the scarf handle
1. Fold your scarf diagonally so that you end up with a strip about 10cm wide; with pointed ends at each end.

2. Use your crochet hook to enlarge a hole about 3 rows down from the top edge. Thread one end of your folded scarf through the hole, from the front. Pull through about 10cm. Using the scarf and threaded scarf edge, tie 2 dead knots. Make sure that your knots are tight.

3. Attach the other end of the scarf to the opposite side of the bag the same way.

Your bag is done. If you like, you can embellish it with a flower, a brooch or anyway you like. Do let me know if you have any questions. I’ll be most happy to answer them.

You may also like:

A bejeweled kabuki brushcase tutorial by blackfrangipani

DIY Tutorial: From Matchboxes to Stunning Dresser by blackfrangipani

Hey guys! I have some good news to share: my eco-friendly tote was recently featured in The Straits Times, Singapore’s leading newspaper. I’m so thrilled about it. Soon, I shall be posting the tutorial that comes with the feature. Watch out for it.

I like playing makeover artist with matchboxes and I hope you enjoy it too. Remember the matchbox chests I made? Well, I’ve taken a step further embellishing and transforming one of them. This time round, I turned my beautiful chest of drawers into a stunning dresser; complete with a “mirror” and an indulgent number of “perfume bottles” on the dresser top.  I’ve added a cup and saucer charm for a whimsical touch and a tassel for more drama.

Let’s get started on how to create this dresser.

Please note that this tutorial continues from previous tutorials – DIY: Beautiful miniature chest made from matchboxes tutorial and DIY: How to embellish your miniature matchbox chest.

What you need:

• An ornate plate from Tim Holtz Ornate Plate Ingenuous Collection or a small scrapbooking frame
• Charm components: an antique key and a cup and saucer or charms of your choice
• 3″ length of chain
• An assortment of beads of different shapes and sizes
• 1/2-inch to 1″ headpins: the number you need depends on how many “perfume bottles” you want to make
• A small piece of thick silver foil for the “mirror”
• A tassel
• E6000 glue
• A brown or black marker
• A pair of flush cutters
• A match (combustible head removed)
• A few toothpicks

Steps:

How to make “perfume bottles”

1. Choose beads that look like parts of a perfume bottle. For instance, small oval beads can become the top part of your “perfume bottles” while the larger ones form the bottom. Mix and match the beads you have on hand. If you thread the chosen beads on a headpin, you’ll have a good idea on how your “perfume bottle” will look like when done.

Take a look at my photo for ideas. There are so many possibilities so enjoy the creative process.

One “perfume bottle” I particularly like is the one that was made to look like it has a perfume diffuser. Here, a teardrop crystal bead was used to simulate a “diffuser” at the top part of the “perfume bottle”.

2. Once you’ve chosen your beads, it’s time to assemble the pieces. Apply a light coat of glue, about 1/2″ long, along the length of the headpin. The coat of glue should start near the head of the pin.

3. Carefully thread your beads, one by one onto the headpin. The beads are threaded onto the headpin in this sequence: the bead simulating the bottle top always comes first. Then comes the bead which forms the middle part and finally, the bead which becomes the base.

If you notice excess glue oozing between the threaded beads, use a toothpick to remove the excess glue. Leave the threaded beads aside for the glue to set and continue making more “perfume bottles”.

4. Once the glue has set, check if the beads are secure on the headpin. If they are loose, you’ll need to repeat the gluing process.

5. Cut away the excess headpin with flush cutters. Make sure that the blades of your cutters are flush to the base of the last bead.

Important: Please be careful when snipping away the excess headpins as they can become projectiles when they are snipped off. Take a look at how to do it safely.

Creating the framed “mirror”

1. Use a pencil and lightly trace the centre cutout part of the ornate plate or miniature frame onto silver foil. Add a 1/8″ border around your tracing. Cut along the traced border and glue the foil onto the back of your ornate plate or frame. When gluing, make sure that the shiny surface faces the front. Your “mirror” is done.

Setting the mirror on the dresser

1. Cut the match equal to the length of the base of the “mirror” frame and colour it with the marker. When the ink is dry, glue it to the base at the back of the “mirror”. The closeup photo also shows where the match should be glued.

2. Once the glue has set, glue the mirror onto the matchbox chest. The match is used to provide additional support for the “mirror”.

Finishing thr dresser

Now that all the components are done, it’s time to decorate your dresser. This is my favourite part.

1. Glue the “perfume bottles” onto the top of the dresser; one at a time. You can arrange them any way you like. And if you have a cup and saucer charm like me, add it top of the dresser.

2. To further embellish the sides of the dresser, I’ve attached a key charm to one end of my chain and looped it through the frame of the “mirror”. A tassel was looped on the opposite side.

That’s it!! You now have a stunning miniature matchbox dresser. Best of all, it’s functional too. I keep my rings and earrings in the tiny drawers. Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll be most happy to help. I hope you enjoy this tutorial and remember, you saw it here first.

You may also like:

Matchbox Miniature Chest Tutorial by blackfrangipani

Embellishing a Matchbox Chest Tutorial  by blackfrangipani